Ink distributing means for printing press



Oct. 3, 1961 J. G. GHORMLEY, JR., ETAL 3,

INK DISTRIBUTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Oct. 5, 1959 n M m M m v V T M 9| E a m A L E M H R C R w H 6 K mm G T m Y 5 E B E 0 mm M N J C E ma i M Q 1% w mum |I-\\ WQ\ wk mv Mi Q 9 0m MA 2 Ht ---Qi-|- 1 f1 Oct. 3, 1961 J. G. GHORMLEY, JR., ET AL 3,002,451

INK DISTRIBUTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESS 6E m mt I I 'IIIIIIIIIA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES G. GHORMLE Y, JR. CLYDE I KITCHENS ATTORNEY 3,0li2,451 INK DISTRIBUTING MEANS FOR PRINTING PRESS James G. Ghormley, Jr., and Clyde '1. Kitchens, Fort Worth, Tern, assignors to Ghormley Engineering and Manufacturing Company, Fort Worth, Ten, a corporation of Texas Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,249 I 4 Claims. (Cl. 101-350) This invention relates to printing presses and has reference to means for transporting and distributing fluids therein.

In gear driven printing presses the phase relationships of laterally oscillated fluid distributing rollers are generally established by mixed dependence upon rotation of the various parts and since the rotation itself is derived from fixed gear ratios, the maintenance of proper phase relationships of lateral oscillations presents no particular problem. In a chain driven press, however, wherein means are provided for relative angular displacement of principal members with respect to one another during operation of the press, the provision of independent means for maintaining proper phase relationships for lateral oscillations of fluid distributing rollers becomes desirable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide means for laterally oscillating fluid distributing rollers in a printing press of the chain driven type.

A further object of the invention is to provide independent means for laterally oscillating a plurality of fluid distributing rollers which are driven in rotary motion by a single continuous chain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for fixing the phase relationship of lateral oscillations of a plurality of fluid distributing rollers driven in rotary motion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means for laterally oscillating rollers in a printing press utilizing a single continuous chain to impart rotary motion to its various components and wherein such means is unaffected by alteration in the angular displacement of such components relative to one another.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for imparting an oscillating motion to a plurality of rollers in a printing press including a pair of reciprocally oscillating rollers and wherein such means can be synchronized generally with the operating speed of the press.

It is also an object of the invention to provide lateral oscillating means for fluid distributing rollers in a printing press, which means may be constructed simply and economically and may be maintained and serviced easily.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the invention shown with its outer mounting plate and driving members removed.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a broken front elevational view of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a partially sectional cillating mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a partially sectional side elevational view of the components illustrated'in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a partially sectional plan view of another oscillating assembly of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a partially sectional side elevational view of the components illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8. is a fragmentary side elevational view of the table sprocket and coasting par-ts of the invention.

plan view of an 05- States 11 atent FIGURE 9 is a sectional plan view of components illustrated in FIGURE 8.

in the drawings, a printing press utilizing a plurality of fluid fountains is shown with several series of rollers adapted to conduct ink or moisture from the respective fountains to appropriate printing surfaces. Each of the illustrated rollers is disposed with its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of all the other rollers, it being understood that each is in a substantially horizontal disposition with respect to the ground.

An impression cylinder :10 is provided with a rubber blanket at its peripheral surface and with a coaxial shaft 11. One end of the shaft 11 is journaled to an inner mounting plate 12 (FIGURE 1) and the other end of the shaft 11 is journaled to and extends through an outer mounting plate 13 (FIGURE 2). The respective mounting plates 12 and 13 form vertical side walls of a housing 14 shown with its upper forward edge truncated. A sprocket 15 is secured to that end of the shaft 11 which projects through the outer mounting plate 13. A plate cylinder 16, adapted to receive and carry a photolithographic plate at its peripheral surface, is positioned adjacently above and rearwardly of the impression cylinder It) and is provided with a coaxial shaft 17, one end of which is journaled to the inner mounting plate .12 and the other end of which is journaled to and extends through the outer mounting plate 13. A sprocket 18 is attached to that end of the shaft 17 of the plate cylinder is projecting through the outer mounting plate 13. Inking rollers 19 and 20 are positioned adjacently above the plate cylinder 16 and each of the inking rollers '19 and it) is journaled at its opposite ends to the inner and outer mounting plates 12 and 13 respectively. A primary ink distribution roller 21 is positioned in contact with and above the inking rollers 19 and 20. A shaft 22, integral and coaxial with the primary ink distribution roller 21 is rotatably and slidably supported at one of its ends by the inner mounting plate 12. The other end of the shaft 2:2 projects through the outer mounting plate 13 where it is provided with a longitudinal keyway spaced from the end of the shaft 22 (FIGURE 4). A sprocket 24 adapted to be received by the shaft 22 of the primary ink distribution roller 21 is provided with an integral sleeve 25 coaxial with the bore of the sprocket 24 at one face thereof and is provided with a longitudinal keyway 26 within the bore of the sprocket 24. The sprocket 24 is positioned on the shaft 22 of the primary ink distribution roller 21 with the sleeve 25 positioned adjacent the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 where the sleeve 25 is secured to the inner race 27 of a ball bearing 28. The outer race 29 of the ball bearing '28 is secured to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 by a flanged cylindrical bracket 30. A key 31 is positioned Within the corresponding keyways 23 and 26 of the shaft 22 and the sprocket 24, respectively, so that they are coupled to one another with respect to rotation about their common axis but are slidably joined with respect to lateral displacement. The end of the shaft 22 projects outwardlyof the sprocket 24. A primary ink conducting roller 32 is positioned above mary ink distribution roller 21 and is disposed parallel thereto with its opposite ends journaled to the inner and outer mounting plates 12 and 13. A secondary ink distribution roller 33 is positioned beneath and rearwardly of the primary ink communication roller 32. A shaft 34, integrally and coaxially constructed with the secondary ink distribution roller 33, is rotatably and slidably sup ported by the inner mounting plate 12 at one of its ends and the other end of the shaft 34 projects through the outer mounting plate 13 Where it is slidably joined to a sprocket 35, identical in construction to the sprocket 24,

. and received by an annular ball bearing (not shown) and rearwardly of the priin a manner idenan adjacent fountain plate 39 is positioned rearwardly of the secondary ink communication roller 37 and is spaced therefrom. An ink ductor roller 40 is positioned between the fountain roller 38 and the secondary ink communication roller 37 and is swingably mounted to make alternate contact with the peripheral surfaces of the rollers. An alternate position of the ductor roller 40 is indicated by dotted lines (FIGURE 1).

A moisture roller 41 is positioned rearwardly of the plate roller '16 with its opposite ends journaled respectively to the inner and outer mounting plates 12 and 13 and in rolling contact with the photolithographic plate, not shown, on the plate cylinder 16. A moisture distribution roller 42 is positioned rearward of and in contact with the moisture roller 41. i A shaft 43, integral and coaxial with the moisture distribution roller 42, is rotatably and slidably mounted to the inner mounting plate 12 and at one of its ends; the other end of the shaft 43 is slidably attached to a sprocket 44 exteriorly of the mounting plate 13 in a manner identical to the described attachment of the sprocket 24 to the shaft 22.; the sprocket 44 is likewise rotatably secured to a ball bearing (not shown) aifixed to the outer mounting plate 1-3 by a flanged cylindrical bracket 45 in a manner identical to that described for the sprocket 24 of the primary ink distribution roller 21. A moisture pan 46 and pan roller 47 of conventional construction are positioned rearwardly of the moisture distribution roller 42 and are spaced therefrom. A moisture ductor roller 48 is swingably mounted between the moisture distribution roller 42 and the pan roller 47 to make alternate contact therewith. An alternate position of the ductor roller 48 is indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

Paper stock 49 is conducted over an exteriorly mounted roller 50 into the housing 14 through an opening (not shown) in the rearward wall thereof, and the lower portion of the rubber mat carried at the periphery of the impression cylinder makes contact with the upper surface of the paper stock 49 which is conducted from the housing 14 over a second exteriorly mounted roller 51. Printing on the lower surface of the paper stock 49 is accomplished by lower components equivalent in construction and arrangement to those elements previously described. Lower components with identical construction and arrangement to their upper counterparts are identified by the same numerals and are designated as lower components by the suflix a. Thus, a lower impression cylinder 10a and plate cylinder 16a communicate with an ink fountain 39a through a train of ink carrying rollers 19a, 20a, 21a, 32a, 33a, 37a, 38a and 40a and a lower water pan 46a is communicated with the lower impression cylinder 16a by a train of moisture carrying rollers 41a, 42a, 47a, and 48a. Sprockets a, 18a, 24a, 35a and 44a are also arranged and constructed in accordance with their numerical counterparts. It should be particularly noted that the mountings of the sprockets 24a, 35a and 44a associated with the lower primary and secondary ink distribution rollers 21a and 33a and the lower moisture distribution roller 42a respectively are identical to the mounting of the sprocket 24 of the primary ink distribution roller 21 as previously described and as best illustrated in FIGURE 4.

A bell crank 52 comprising obtusely disposed coplanar arms is pivotally attached at the juncture of its arms to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 with the plane of its arms substantially parallel therewith. Sprockets 53 and 54 are rotatably attached to stub shafts (not numbered) projecting laterally outward from the ends of the respective arms of the bell crank 52. A link 55 is connected to one of the arms of the bell crank 52 and extends therefrom through the rear wall of the hous ing 14 where it is engaged by an adjustment knob 56. A drive sprocket 57 suitably connected to a power source (not shown) is rotatably mounted to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 at a position thereon near the lower forward corner of the housing 14. An idler sprocket 58 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft, not numbered, on the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 near the lower rear corner of the housing 14 and is coaxially secured to a reduction sprocket 59 positioned between the idler sprocket 58 and said outer mounting plate. A continuous chain 60 is engaged by the drive sprocket 57 and extends therefrom to engagement with the teeth of the idler sprocket 58, and thence to engagement with each of the previously described sprockets as shown in FIGURE 2 so that opposite directions of rotation are imparted to each driven upper member with respect to its lower counterpart. Guide sprockets 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 are rotatably secured to the outer mounting plate 13 and engage the chain 60 at positions where alterations of its course effect improvements between the chain 60 and various described sprockets. A tension bar 66 is pivotally connected to the outer mounting plate 13 between the drive sprocket 57 and the idler sprocket 58. A tension sprocket 67 rotatably secured to one end of the tension bar 66 engages the chain 60, and a spring 68 is extended between and connected to the other end of the tension bar 66 and the base of the housing 14. A table sprocket 69 is rotatably secured to the outer mounting plate 13 at a position between the base thereof and the sprockets 24a and 35a of the lower primary and secondary ink distribution rollers 21a and 33a, respectively, by a shaft 70 coaxially mounted to the table sprocket 69 and journaled to the outer mounting plate 13. A collar 71 is secured to one end of the shaft 70 interiorly and adjacently of the outer mounting plate 13 to limit axial motion of the shaft 70 and table sprocket 69. A wrist pin 72 disposed with its axis parallel to the axis of the shaft 70 is journaled to the table sprocket 69 at a position thereon eccentric to its axis of rotation; the wrist pin 72 is provided with a head 73 larger in diameter that the body of the wrist pin, which head is positioned exteriorly adjacent the outer surface of the table sprocket 69.

A lower pillow block 74 is secured by bolts to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 at a position thereon beneath the table sprocket 69. An upper pillow block 75 is secured by bolts to the outer mounting plate 13 at a position thereon above the sprockets 24 and 25 of the primary and secondary ink communication rollers 22 and 23. A central pillow block 76 is secured by bolts to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13 at a position between the upper pillow block 75 and the lower pillow bloc 74. A lower vertical shaft 77 is journaled to the lower and central pillow blocks 74 and 75, and a collar 78 joins the upper end of the lower vertical shaft to the lower end of an upper vertical shaft 79 which extends coaxially therefrom where it is journaled in the upper pillow block 75.

A portion of the lower vertical shaft 77 in alignment with the axis of rotation of the table sprocket 69 is planed at opposite sides to form parallel opposite surfaces 80 and 81 thereon. A coupling bar 82, bifurcated its ends 83, is

77 communicating the planed surfaces 80 and 81 thereof, and a nut secures the pivot bolt 84 in its described position. The unbifurcated end of the coupling bar 8218 provided with a .cylindrical recess 86 having its axis perpendicular to the bolt 84 through the bifurcated end of the coupling bar 82. A swivel pin 87 adapted to be received by the recess 86 within the coupling bar 80 is po+ sitioned therein and extends to pivotal engagement with the head 73 of the wrist pin 72. An oscillator drive chain 88 engages the teeth of the table sprocket 69 and the reducer sprocket 59.

A collar 89 is attached to the upper vertical shaft 79 by set screws 90 and 91 at a position which is in horizontal alignment with the primary and secondary ink distribution rollers 21 and 33. Forward rocker arms 92 and 93 are integrally constructed with the collar 89 and project parallel with one another forwardly and equidistantly therefrom. One end of a forward oscillating rod 94 is positioned between the projecting ends of the rocker arms 92 and 93 and is there pivotally connected by a bolt 95 extending through corresponding-openings in the ends of the rocker arms and through the forward oscillating rod 94. The other end of the forward oscillating rod 94 is secured to a forward bearing socket 96 adapted to receive the outer race 97 of a forward ball bearing 98 and to secure the same by a set screw 99 and the inner race 100 of the forward ball bearing 98receives an end of the shaft 22 of the primary ink distribution roller 21 and is secured thereto by a set screw 101. Rear rocker arms 102 and 103 are also integrally constructed with the collar 89 and project parallel with one another rearwardly and equidistantly therefrom. One end of a rear oscillating rod 104 is positioned between projecting ends of the respective rear rocker arms 102 and 103 and is pivotally connected thereto by a bolt 105; the other end of the rear oscillating rod 104 is secured to a rear bearing socket 106 adapted to receive and secure the outer race of a rear ball bearing (not shown) which receives and secures an end of the shaft 34 of the secondary ink distribution roller 33.

A lower oscillating mechanism is mounted on the lower vertical shaft 77 and engages the ends of the shafts 22a and 34a of the lower primary and secondary ink distribution rollers 21a and 33a; parts identical to those described immediately above with reference to the upper oscillating mechanism are identified in FIGURE 2 by corresponding numerals and are denoted as lower equivalents by the suffix a.

A collar is attached to the upper vertical shaft 79 by set screws 108 and 109 at a position thereon in horizontal alignment with the moisture distribution roller 42. A rocker arm 110 is integrally constructed with the collar 107 and projects rearwardly therefrom. A lever comprising parallel bars 111 and 112 is pivotally attached at one of its ends to the projecting end of the rocker arm 110 by a bolt 113 extending through appropriate openings in corresponding ends of the parallel bars and the end of the rocker arm 110. The other ends of the parallel bars 111 and 112 are pivotally attached to one end of a link 114- by a bolt 115. The other end of the link 114 is pivotally attached to a mounting bracket 116 affixed to the outer surface of the outer mounting plate 13. An oscillating rod 117 is disposed between and pivotally connected by a bolt 118 to the parallel bars 111 and 112 at a position intermediate the ends thereof, and an end of the oscillating rod is. secured to a bearing socket 119 adapted to receive a ball bearing (not shown) mounted on the shaft 43 of the moisture distribution roller 42.

A lower lever and link assembly, identical in construction to that described above, is secured to the lower vertical shaft 77 and engages an end of the shaft 43a of the lower moisture distribution roller 42a, and since the components and operation are the same they carry the same reference numerals.

In operation, rotary motion is imparted to the impression cylinder 10, plate cylinder 16, primary and secondary ink distribution rollers 21 and 33 and the moisture distribution roller 42 by engagement of their respective sprockets with the continuous chain 60; similar engage ment imparts an opposite rotary motion to each of the lower counterparts 10a, 16a, 21a, 33a and 42a. The peripheral rubber blankets carried by the impression cylinders 1 0 and 10a receive printed impressions from the corresponding photolithographic plates carried by the respective plate cylinders 16 and 16a and transfer the impressions to opposite sides of paper stock 49 passing therebetween. Rotation of the bell crank 52 about its pivotal connection to the outer mounting plate 13 effects a displacement of the upper plate cylinder 16 relative to the impression cylinder 10 so that the register ofprinted images on opposite sides of the paper stock 49 may be adjusted while the press is in operation. Means for effecting this adjustment are more fully disclosed in our copending appiication Serial No. 802,711, filed March 30, 1959. In its course the continuation chain 60 also engages the idler sprocket 58 which is rotatably secured to the reducer sprocket 59. By means of the oscillator drive chain 88 the reducer sprocket 59 drives the tablesprocket 69 at an angular velocity less than that imparted to the other described sprockets. The eccentric universal connection of the coupling bar 82 to the table sprocket 69 through the wrist pin 72 and swivel pin 87 and the pivotal connection of the coupling bar 82 to the lower vertical shaft 77 convert the rotary motion of the table sprocket 69 to oscillating axial rotation in the vertical shafts 77 and 79. The fixed relationship of the several rocker arms to the vertical shafts 77 and 79 translates the rotative oscillations of the shafts to reciprocating longiudinal displacemen of the fluid distribution rollers 21, 33, 42, 21a, 33a and 42a. Swivel attachment of these rollers to the respective rocker arms, levers and links, through ball bearings, permits the rollers to be displaced longitudinally while they are in rotary motion. Keyway engagement of each longitudinally displaced shaft to a driven sprocket provides continuous rotation during longitudinal displacement. Thus, rotary and longitudinal motions are independently provided to the fluid distribution rollers 21, 33, 42, 21a, 33a and 42a. Furthermore, the fixed relationship of the several rocker arms to the vertical shafts 77 and 79 maintain a constant phase relationship between longitudinal displacements of the fluid distribution rollers, and this phase relationship is not disturbed by the described adjustment in register of printed images brought about 'by alteration of the position of the bell crank 52.

The disclosed arrangement of cooperating parts has the additional advantage of placing all components in proximate yet easily accessible positions exterior of the outer mounting plate 13 which serves as a barrier between ink carrying and non i k carrying components.

The invention .is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing press including a mounting frame, a shaft rotatably and axially slidably mounted in said frame, a roller mounted to said shaft, a sprocket centrally receiving an end portion of said shaft, longitudinally slidable means rotatably coupling said sprocket to said shaft, a sprocket chain engaging said sprocket, a swivel mounted on an end of said shaft, an arm engaging said swivel, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame in a disposition substantially perpendicular to the first said shaft, means spaced from said swivel securing a portion of said arm on said second shaft, a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said frame and having its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said second shaft, a bar pivotally secured to said second shaft and extending therefrom to said second sprocket, a universal swivel joint eccentrically connecting said bar to said second sprocket, reducer means engaging said second sprocket and said sprocket chain, and means driving said sprocket chain.

2. In a printing press including a mounting frame, a shaft rotatably and axially slidably mounted in said frame, a roller mounted on said shaft, a sprocket centrally receiving an end portion of said shaft, longitudinally slidable means rotatably coupling said sprocket to said shaft, a sprocket chain engaging said sprocket, a swivel mounted on the end of said end portion of said shaft, an arm engaging said swivel, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame in a disposition substantially perpendicular to the first said shaft, means spaced from said swivel securing a portion of said arm to said second shaft, :1 second sprocket rotatably mounted on said frame and having its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said second shaft, a bar pivotally secured to said second shaft and extending therefrom to said second sprocket, a universal swivel joint eccentrically connecting said bar to said second sprocket, speed reducer means engaging said second sprocket and said sprocket chain, and means driving said sprocket chain.

3. In a printing press including a fluid distributing roller rotatably mounted in said press and slidably mounted with respect to axial displacement, a sprocket coaxially mounted on one end portion of said fluid distributing roller for axial displacement relative thereto, a keyway longitudinally formed Within said end portion of said fluid distributing roller, a keyway formed Within said sprocket and corresponding to said keyway in said fluid distributing roller, a key within said keyways, a sprocket chain engaging the peripheral teeth of said sprocket, means driving said sprocket chain, a swivel engaging one end of said roller, and means oscillating said swivel in the direction of the axis of said fluid the .last said means including a shaft mounted to said printing press in a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said fluiddistributing roller and spaced from said end'portion thereof, an arm secured to said shaft and projecting therefrom to said end portion of said fluid distributing roller and there engaging said swivel, a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said printing press and disposed with its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft, a bar having one of its ends pivotally connected to said shaft at a position thereon in alignment with the axis of rotation of said second sprocket, a universal joint mounted on the other end of said bar, means connecting said universal joint to said second sprocket at a position thereon eccentric to the center thereof, and means driving said second sprocket.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and wherein said means driving said second sprocket include reducer sprocket means engaging said sprocket chain.

distributing roller,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 30, 1922 

